Hair drying equipment



1952 D. H. THOMAS HAIR DRYING EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 26, 1950 w mmvrm Doeow/v H. mom;

Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIR DRYING EQUIPMENT Dorothy H. Thomas, Seattle, Wash.

Application December 26, 1950, Serial No. 202,665

1 Claim.

This invention relates to hair drying means and it has reference more particularly to equipment whereby the hair of the head may be conveniently and quickly dried; it being the principal object of my invention to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive equipment that may be used in connection with various of the present day suction cleaners, for the drying of the hair by a flow of air delivered by the suction cleaner.

More specifically stated, it is the object of my invention to provide a device that is especially designed for home use; that comprises a combination of head enclosing helmet, a suction cleaner mechanism for supplying a forced flow of drying air and a novel form of adapter for connecting the air delivery tube of the suction cleaner to the helmet and for the support of the weight of the helmet while in use.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a combination of the kind and for the purpose above stated, wherein the adapter, which is used to connect the air delivery tube with the helmet, may be readily attached to any convenient form of support, for example to a chair back, or the like, to take the weight of the helmet air tube and thus relieve the user in this respect.

Still further objects of my invention reside in the details of construction of parts used, in their combination and mode of use, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the present combination of suction cleaner mechanism and drying helmet as connected and supported from a chair back by an adapter in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the adapter and the parts to be joined thereby; certain portions of the parts being shown in section for better understanding of construction.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide for home use a hair drying equipment that may be used in connection with the ordinary vacuum or suction cleaner power unit, as the means for supplying the drying air, and in this way avoid the usual high expense of hair drying devices of those kinds generally used in beauty parlors. Furthermore, the invention has taken into consideration the requirements for quick and effective hair drying by means of unheated air and has provided a helmet that may 2 be applied over the head of the person whose hair is to be dried and has made provision for connection of the air delivery hose of the vacuum cleaner unit thereto for the most satisfactory and effective use of the air without discomfort to the user.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have, by way of illustration, shown one of the present day types of vacuum cleaners as used for supplying air for the present hair drying purpose. It comprises a cylindrical housing I!) in which there is contained an electric motor, and a fan or blower, not shown, operable by the motor to create suction for the cleaning operation. At one end of the housing III is an air discharge outlet I2. In the normal use of the device, a dust retaining bag is attached to receive air as discharged from this outlet, but in the present use, a flexible hose or tube I3 is attached thereto; it being understood that in normal use of this tube I3, various types of nozzles, brushes, or the like, may be attached to its outer end to serve various cleaning purposes. However, in the present instance, where the vacuum cleaner serves as a part of the combination, the hose is connected, by means presently described, with a helmet or cap I5 through which the drying air is applied to the hair.

The helmet or cap I5 consists of a hollow body adapted to be applied over the head of the user with substantial clearance for air discharge as provided for in the ordinary hair drying helmets as used in beauty parlors. At the back side of the helmet is a tubular stem or inlet I5 through which the drying air is delivered into the helmet and permitted to flow about the head and then to be discharged.

As a means for connecting the hose or tube I3 with the helmet inlet I6, I provide what I have referred to as an adapter, designated in its entirety by reference numeral 20. This adapter also serves as a means of support for the equipment so that its weight will not have to be hand supported or sustained by the head of the user.

The adapter comprises a rigid, tubular body portion 25 with diametrically reduced opposite end portions 26 and 21 adapted, respectively, to be received in friction-tight connection. within the end fitting 28 of the hose I3 and within the inlet I6 of the helmet.

Fixed to the body 25 is a bracket 29, and mounted thereby are the opposedly related jaw portions an and 3I of a spring clamn device.

These are adapted to be applied to a chair back,

such as designated at 3 in Fig. 1, or to other means of support, for the support of the equipment, and it is the intent that the bracket be adjustable and of such design that when so applied to a chair it will hold the helmet at a suitable height for use.

To give a. desired amount of adjustability to the support, the bracket preferably comprises parts that are adjustably connected or jointed, and in this instance the bracket comprises the leg 29' that is attached rigidly to part 25, and a leg 29:12 that carries the spring clamp members and is adjustably joined to the leg 29 by a bolt 35. Brackets of other design than here shown might be adapted to this use.

The device as shown is useful and practical for home use, and is relatively inexpensive. Changes in details of parts might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is-

In,combination, a source of drying air under pressure, and a flexible air delivery tube extended therefrom for the application of said air to a point of use, a hair drying helmet adapted to be applied with clearance over the head of the user; said helmet having a tubular air inlet stem projecting therefrom and serving as a support for the helmet, and an adapter of tubular form adapted to be applied at opposite ends to said stem and to the end of said flexible tube to provide a connection for the delivery of drying air into the helmet, and a clamp device fixed to said adapter tube and adapted for application to a support and comprising adjustably connected parts permitting adjustment of the adapter relative to the support to which the clamp is applied.

. DOROTHY H. THOMAS.

No references cited. 

